Aviation Ministry increases passenger capacity to 85%, fare band applicable 15 days a month

 NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation today announced to increase the passenger capacity of airlines from 72.5 percent to 85 percent of their pre-Covid domestic flights.

The Ministry in its official order stated that the fare band will only be applicable for 15 days and that the airlines are not required to stick to the fare band for the remaining 15 days of the month.

India had imposed lower and upper limits on airfares based on flight duration when services were resumed on May 25, 2020, after a two-month Covid-triggered lockdown.

The lower caps were imposed to help the airlines that have been struggling financially due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The upper caps were imposed so that passengers are not charged huge amounts when the demand for seats is high.

The carriers have been operating 72.5 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic flights since August 12, according to the ministry's order. Between July 5 and August 12, the cap stood at 65 per cent. Between June 1 and July 5, the cap was at 50 per cent.